Shloka 1

कपोती-विलापः स्वर्गसंयोगश्च

The Dove’s Lament and Celestial Reunion

Devanagari script

अपर बछ। ] अति्ऑकशाड< त्रिचत्वारिशर्दाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: शरणागतकी रक्षा करनेके विषयमें एक बहेलिये और कपोत-कपोतीका प्रसंग

Transliteration

Yudhiṣṭhira uvāca: Pitāmaha mahāprājña sarvaśāstra-viśārada | śaraṇaṃ pālayānasya yo dharmas taṃ vadasva me ||

Translation

ਯੁਧਿਸ਼ਠਿਰ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਹੇ ਪਿਤਾਮਹ! ਤੁਸੀਂ ਮਹਾਬੁੱਧਿਮਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਸਭ ਸ਼ਾਸਤਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਿਦਵਾਨ ਹੋ। ਜੋ ਸ਼ਰਨ ਆਏ ਜੀਵ ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਹੋ ਜਿਹਾ ਧਰਮ ਅਤੇ ਕਿਹੋ ਜਿਹਾ ਪੁੰਨ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ—ਮੈਨੂੰ ਦੱਸੋ।

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said/spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पितामह: O grandsire
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• महाप्राज्ञ: O very wise one
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाप्राज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सर्वशास्त्रविशारद: O expert in all śāstras
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वशास्त्रविशारद
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• शरणम्: refuge/shelter
• शरणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• पालयानस्य: of (one) protecting
• Type: Verb
• Root: पालयत्
• Form: Śatṛ (present active participle), Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• यः: who/which
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मः: dharma/merit/duty
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वदस्व: tell/say
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Dative, Singular

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Bhīṣma (Pitāmaha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames a central ethical inquiry of Śānti Parva: the duty (dharma) and spiritual merit involved in protecting one who seeks refuge (śaraṇāgata). It treats asylum and protection of the helpless as a high moral obligation worthy of scriptural clarification.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Bhīṣma, acknowledging his vast learning, and asks him to explain what dharma applies to a protector of a refuge-seeker. This question introduces the ensuing instruction and illustrative story about safeguarding the surrendered.